Flow balancing in food processor cleaning system

Abstract

A plurality of bypass lines are configured to selectively engage a corresponding plurality of food flow paths in a food processor. Each bypass line fluidly communicates with an inlet of a pressure regulating valve such that a common pressure occurs at a spaced position in each food flow path providing an equal pressure at the pressure regulating valve.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A food processor comprising:
 (a) a first food flow path extending from an first upstream input end to a first downstream output end; 
 (b) a first freezer chamber in the first food flow path intermediate the first upstream input end and the first downstream output end; 
 (c) a first bypass line configured to connect to the first food flow path intermediate the first upstream input end and the first downstream output end to receive a flow from the first food flow path into the first bypass line; and 
 (e) a first pressure regulating valve having a pressure regulating valve inlet and a pressure regulating valve outlet, wherein the pressure regulating valve inlet fluidly communicates with the first bypass line. 
 
     
     
       2. The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first food flow path includes an upstream portion including the first upstream input end, and wherein the first bypass line is connected to the upstream portion of the first food flow path. 
     
     
       3. The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first food flow path includes a downstream portion including the first downstream output end, and wherein the first bypass line is connected to the downstream portion of the first food flow path. 
     
     
       4. The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first bypass line is releasably connected to the first food flow path. 
     
     
       5. The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first bypass line is integrally connected to the first food flow path. 
     
     
       6. The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein the first pressure regulating valve has one of a predetermined, fixed, dynamic, self-adjusting and adjustable cracking pressure. 
     
     
       7. The food processor of  claim 1 , wherein the outlet of the first pressure regulating valve is connected to one of a drain, transfer, discharge and recirculating line. 
     
     
       8. A food processor comprising:
 (a) a first food flow path extending from an first upstream input end to a first downstream output end; 
 (b) a second food flow path extending from a second upstream input end to a second downstream output end; 
 (c) a first bypass line configured to connect to the first food flow path intermediate the first upstream input end and the first downstream output end; 
 (d) a second bypass line configured to connect to the second food flow path intermediate the second upstream input end and the second downstream output end; and 
 (e) a first pressure regulating valve having a pressure regulating valve inlet and a pressure regulating valve outlet, wherein the pressure regulating valve inlet fluidly communicates with the first bypass line and the second bypass line. 
 
     
     
       9. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the first food flow path includes a first upstream portion including the first upstream input end, and wherein the first bypass line is connected to the first upstream portion of the first food flow path. 
     
     
       10. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the first food flow path includes a first upstream portion including the first upstream input end, and wherein the first bypass line is connected to the first upstream portion of the first food flow path, wherein the second food flow path includes a second upstream portion including the second upstream input end, and wherein the second bypass line is connected to the second upstream portion of the second food flow path. 
     
     
       11. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the first food flow path includes a first downstream portion including the first downstream output end, and wherein the first bypass line is connected to the first downstream portion of the first food flow path. 
     
     
       12. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the first bypass line is releasably connected to the first food flow path. 
     
     
       13. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the first bypass line is integrally connected to the first food flow path. 
     
     
       14. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the first pressure regulating valve has one of a predetermined, fixed, dynamic, self-adjusting and adjustable cracking pressure. 
     
     
       15. The food processor of  claim 8 , wherein the outlet of the first pressure regulating valve is connected to one of a drain, transfer, discharge and recirculating line. 
     
     
       16. The food processor of  claim 8 , further comprising a shunt fluidly connecting the first bypass line to the second bypass line intermediate the first food flow path the first pressure regulating valve.